Massage apparatus



Sept. l1, 1945. M. ANDls MASSAGE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1942 j' 9 INVENTOR f MAT/few @ND/5 fj@ f.

A TTUEN EYS.

Patented Sept. 11, 1945 `Mathew Andis, Racine, Wis., assignor to Andis Clipper. Company,-Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application .ylanuary 19, 1942, Serial No. 427,303

6 Claims.. (o1. 12s-57) I This invention relates to improvements in massage apparatus. f

The invention has two primary objects. First, the provision of means, preferably detachable, at least in part, for the protection of the patient and the operator from direct contact with the massage applicators and, secondly, the provision of a construction in which the massage applicators are dual, turning toward each other in opposite directions so as to combine a pinching or squeezing motion with the massaging and slapping operations which are the natural'effect of the apparatus where a single set of applicators is employed.

The manner in which these and other objectives of the invention are achieved will appear more fully from the following disclosure of the invention.

In the drawings: Y v

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail largely in longitudinal section through the gear casing of the device shown in Fig. l and Fig. `2.

Fig. 4 isa view partially in end elevation' and partially in transverse section through the gear. 'casing and portions of the applicator' assemblies.

Fig. 5 is a detail bottom plan view of the devicev for connecting a detachable apron'through whichV the applicators normally operate. Y Fig. 6 is a detailed View in plan of the apron partially broken away in section. y

Fig. 7 is a View in side elevation on a reducedl scale showing a modifiedA embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail bottom plan view showing one means of attaching a protective apron used in the device of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a View' similar to Fig. modified apron attaching means.

Like parts are' identified by the same referenceV characters throughout .the several views.

The fundamental form f the apparatusis similar to the disclosure of my companion appliand projects at both ends therefrom as best.

shown in Fig. 4. A worm I6 upon extended arma- 8A 4showing a ture shaft I2 meshes with a worm gear Il oncross shaft l5, whereby the cross shaft is positivel driven from the motor. v Y

On .the projecting ends of the cross shaft I5, and immediately adjacentthe gear case Il, are

the applicator sets generically designatedl byV reference character 20. Each such set comprises a hub 2l with side plates 22 and 23 between which are rotatably mounted the applicator rollsv 25. In each applicator set, the number of rolls is three or more so that at all .times one of the rolls will be available for the support of the apparatus from the surface upon which the appli- II and with the rear end of the motor housing 9. The handle as herein disclosed has a vertical dimension materially in excess of its widthfor over at least part of vits extent'whereby the operators fingers can have a better grasp'ofl the handle for the manipulation of the device. Also, thumb pieces project at 21 from lboth sidesof the handle, likewise facilitating manipulation of the device, either with the right or left hand. While the front end `of the` device is supported fromthe massaged surface by one or another of the rolls 25, the rear end of the device is supported from such surface, when desired, by a caster or roller 28 rotatable on a cross shaft 29 carried by bracket 30 from the lower rear portion of the motor housing lll.

Immediately forward of the bracket and beneath the motorhousing, the hook 32 is applied to the motor housing by one or more fingers 33 which may be integral therewith. The hook is made to engage in a pocket or pockets of the apron 35, best shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This apron may be made of any desired material preferably comprising a web of cloth or the like folded upon itself at 36 and having its ends seamed together at 3l and inwardly folded diagonally at 38 to provide pockets with which the projecting end portions 39 of the hook 32 are releasably engaged.

Adjacent fold 36, the web of material comprising apron 35 has an aperture 40 through which extends the arm 4| of a fitting 42 which is T shaped in plan, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, and

has a bar or head 43 disposed within the fold of the apron. The projectingV arm 4l has a series of openings at 44, one of which may be engaged tothe stud 45 which projects forwardly from handle 26. A spring detentA clutch `46 engagesv the sides of arm 4| to hold it upon stud 45 evenfr.

though there may be considerable slack in the apron 35.

When properly positioned, .the apron 35 passes beneath the applicator rolls 25 at both sides of the device, as clearly appears from Figs. 1 and 2 with just suicient tension to prevent its corner pockets 38 from becoming disengaged from the ends 39 and hook 32.

According to the elect desired, the apron 35 may be of any desired material. If it is extremely heavy, it will cushion the eiect of the applicator rolls 25 to a relatively great degree. If it is eX- tremely light, the cushion effect will be minimized. Its purpose is not merely to cushion the rolls, but also to provide increased sanitation. If made of paper or other disposable material, the apron may be thrown away after each use. If made of cloth, the metal fitting 42. may readily be slipped from between the folds of the apron, leaving the apron in condition such that it may readilvbe Washed. V4If vthe instrument is held slightly tilted,` its entirev weight,and any additional weight which maybe imposed upon the handle26 willbe supported fromthemas-saged surface solely by rollers 25 through the interposed apronL the apron being thenonly material to contact the` massaged surface.y Since the apron may readily be disposed of or washed following a single use, this will minimizeA transfer of bacteria and germs from one patient to another and, also make it possible to use the device on a patient who has been treated with creamsv or oils without soiling the device. If the apron shrinks when; washed, the holes 44 will nevertheless provide for its remounting with the desired condition of slack.

For the protectionof the operator and, also, for the protection of the patient, Yit is preferred to use a hood at 50 which may be interposedpbetween handle 26 and the topof gear case Il and which includes arcuately curved wings at 5l extending over the paths in which the rollers 25ct the applicator revolve. This will protect both the patient and the operator from contact withv the applicator except as desired. n

The applicator rollers have a dual, effect. In their revolution about theshaft. l5, they contact successively'the surface tobe massaged, this contact being achieved underthe weight of the instrument and such additional weight as is im.` posed on the. handle 26, it being understood that the operator can either increase or'decrease the pressure of the rollers on the surface. massaged. As the weight is transferred iromone roller to another, the rollers 'success'u'lelx'r strike. the massaged surface with a slapping action which is very eiectivef in reducing flesh. l'n. addition, as the rollers rotate upon their vown axes and move inwardly and outwardly with respect to the massaged surface, they act with a.. massaging action thereon. Both of these functions are performed whether or not the apron v35v used. As above noted. the severity of thegei'ectm'ay be increased or decreased accordingto the. material used in the apron. maximum effect being noted where the apron is entirely omitted.

It has already been observed' that one purpose of the apron is to promote sanitation. and another to promote cleanliness', andE still another is to control the effect of the applicators. upon the body surface to which'thy are applied. A further purpose of the-apron is topreventf any tendency of the devicev to creepi It'will-be understood that the device is intended to'b'enoved'over' the patients skin in. much; the mannertin. which a. Ilatiron ismoved' over? goods to be ironed; Where.

the apron is omitted, the rotation of shaft |45 tends to cause the device to advance under power across the patients body so that it is much easier ,to move the device from right to left than from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1 (assuming shaft I5 to have counter clockwise rotation). This creeping effect 'is also minimized where the apron is used.

The'device shown in Pigs. '7 to 9 is a dual device using some of the basic structureillustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5. The motor casings l0 are the same, two motors being employed. The gear casings H are likewise the same, being assembled to the respective motor housings exactly as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. The applicator sets 20 are likewise identical The two basic units, each including a motor housing', gear housing and applicator sets, are, for the purpose of the modified embodiment of the invention, rigidly connected by a bridge member from which separate handles 55 project upwardly to be grasped by both hands ot the operator. Since the two identical unitsv are opposed to each other, end to end.. the` two shafts l5 will rotate in opposite directionsy as viewed in Pig. 'l with the result that the rollers 25 which are slmporting the device from the massaged surface will.

move toward each other. In addition to the slap-` ping and massagingl act-ion above noted, the` approach of these rollers, repeated as successive rollers contact the massaged surface, will also contribute a pinching or squeezing which increases the effectiveness ofl the device for certain pur'- poses such as the reducing of ilesh.

Due to the angle at which: thexbridge member 55 holds the fundamental motor driven nits. as` shown in Fig.v '71, and duer to thefact that theV assembly is supported at two points upon: the respective applicator sets, the trailing` supporting wheels 28 shown in Fig. 1 and. Eigare not needed in this dual form of they apparatusy and they are` omitted. The bracketsV 3d and: sha-its 29 remain, however, and may conveniently be'` usedv as a means of holding the apron allrwhich ,i passes beneath both setsy of applicators.

Any desired means of. detachably connecting the apron. may be employed.. By way of example, I. havel illustrated in Fig.. 8 a triangular fitting. 58 formed to provide an ear atv 59 encircling. the shaft 29` which would otherwise be used for the roller. The engagement ot they sides of iittlng 58 by the bracketllv keepsthe. fitting from being displaced. laterally.. The. tting provides a hook at 6U with which apertured portions. EI. of apron strap. 62. are. selectively' engageable.`

In the construction shown. in Figr 9y ther apron strap 620 is provided with a series of buttons. at 62|. withwhich a. glove fastener 64 is selectively engageable after. the straphasbeen passed` about the shaft 29 between the earsof'fit'tlng 30.

As in the case of the. device first described,.the modied embodiment shownV irrEigs. 7. to 9 may be used with4 or without the apron. according to the effect desired. Likewise, the apron may be VVAmade of any desired material and may be' discarded or washed after' each using for' purposes already recited.

While no guard such asth'at shownl at 5U is disclosed in connection lwith the device of Fig. 7, the-adaptation of such-aguard tothe Fig. "I construction willbeapparent' in-thel`i'ght of the drsclosure'oi Figs. I to 4i A guard will, however; notA usually loe/needed inview44 of the fact' that in' the Fig: '7 construction, the handles 56'` are. quite re'- 1 mote fromlth'e applicators:anu'mcreasedmeasure f of control is possible when both hands of the operator are engaged therewith.

I claim:

1. A massage instrument comprising the combination with a rotatable applicator, of frame means upon which said applicator is mounted for rotation, an apron comprising a strip of fabric folded upon itself to provide a plurality of plies, means connecting the ends of said strip to said frame means, and a connector having a portion receivable between the plies of said apron and having another portion detachably connected with said frame means.

2. An instrument of the character described comprising the combination with a rotatable applicator, a frame upon which a portion of the applicator is mounted for rotation, a hook on said frame at one side of the applicator, a connector on the frame at the other side of the applicator, an apron provided with pocket means in which said hook is detachably engageable, said apron passing beneath the applicator to be interposed between the applicator and the surface acted on thereby and provided in the vicinity of said connector with means detachably engaging said connector, said connector being adjustable on the frame to put the apron under such tension as to hold said pocket means from disengagement from said hook while allowing it to be quickly detached, cleansed and replaced.

3. In an instrument of the character described, a pair of substantially identical massage units each comprising a motor, a gear case, a cross shaft and an applicator, a bridg'e member rigidly connecting said units with the cross shafts approximately parallel, each unit having its motor supported from the bridge member in an upwardly inclined position with reference to its associated applicator, whereby the instrument may be tilted to vary the relative pressure of the applicators and to operate either of them independently without bringing either motor into contact with the patient.

4. A massaging implement comprising the com bination with a manually manipulatable support, of a planetary set of individually rotatable applicators mounted for revolution about a common applicator supporting shaft with which the axes of the applicators are parallel, of a quick removable and replaceable apron adapted to be interposed between the applicators and the skin of the patient, said support and one end of the apron being provided with mutually engaging hookshaped members and the other end of the apron having a connector extending across its end margin in engagement therewith, and having means for adjustable attachment of the connector with the support and adapted to be either connected with or disconnected from the support.

5. In a device of the character described, the sub-combination which comprises a fabricated iiexible strip folded upon itself to provide an apron, one end of the apron being formed with a hook-receiving pocket and the other end of the apron being formed with an opening aording access of a tension regulating connector to the space between the plies, said apron being adapted to be quickly detached, cleansed and replaced after each operation, and said tension regulating connection comprising a T-shaped tting having a head adapted to be manipulated between the plies of the apron, and an arm projecting through said opening and constituting an adjustable apron anchoring means.

6. In a massaging implement, the combination with a suport having a set of independently ro- A 

